Man found dead in surf at Carolina Beach a suspected suicide

Published: Friday, August 23, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 23, 2013 at 3:18 p.m.

A man found dead in the surf on the north end of Carolina Beach on Friday morning may have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, an official said.

"Our county medical examiner who conducted the preliminary autopsy says he suspects it's a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but we can't be sure until a full autopsy in Jacksonville," said interim Police Chief Harry Humphries.

Members of the town turtle patrol, which monitors turtle nesting on the strand, discovered the body about 6 a.m. in the 400 block of Carolina Beach Avenue North.

The man had no identification on him, and as of 2:30 p.m. Friday investigators were still not closer to determining his identity. Humphries said officers were researching recent missing-persons reports and canvassing the area in hopes of finding out who the victim is.

The victim is described as being in his mid 30s, about 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11, with short dark hair and a dark moustache and goatee. He was wearing denim shorts, a nondescript dark T-shirt and black tennis shoes.

The body didn't appear to have been in the water very long, and no weapon was found at the scene, but Humphries said it could have been buried by the sand brought in from the surf.

A large portion of beach was roped off Friday. Humphries said investigators will revisit the area with metal detectors in a search for a weapon or other evidence.

Nedra Sanford, her son Justin Minor and grandson Hudson Minor, 3, all of High Point, began their day on the beach about 8 a.m. Friday just feet away from the crime scene tape.

Sanford said she saw nothing amiss as she sat on the on the oceanfront porch of her hotel room watching a lightning storm off shore between 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. "I can tell you it didn't happen then. It had to have happened before then," she said.

Nearby, sunbather Margie Smith of Chatmansville, W. Va., said she also didn't hear or see anything while in her oceanfront room directly adjacent to the crime scene.

But, she said, "the air conditioner was going and the ocean sounds like thunder."

Sherri Spires of Williamsburg, Va., who is staying at the nearby Savannah Inn said she had considered a midnight swim Thursday, but her friend had talked her out of going for fear of sharks.

"I'm glad I listened to them," she said upon learning the news. "That's horrible."

<p>A man found dead in the surf on the north end of Carolina Beach on Friday morning may have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, an official said. </p><p>"Our county medical examiner who conducted the preliminary autopsy says he suspects it's a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but we can't be sure until a full autopsy in Jacksonville," said interim Police Chief Harry Humphries. </p><p>Members of the town turtle patrol, which monitors turtle nesting on the strand, discovered the body about 6 a.m. in the 400 block of Carolina Beach Avenue North.</p><p>The man had no identification on him, and as of 2:30 p.m. Friday investigators were still not closer to determining his identity. Humphries said officers were researching recent missing-persons reports and canvassing the area in hopes of finding out who the victim is. </p><p>The victim is described as being in his mid 30s, about 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11, with short dark hair and a dark moustache and goatee. He was wearing denim shorts, a nondescript dark T-shirt and black tennis shoes.</p><p>The body didn't appear to have been in the water very long, and no weapon was found at the scene, but Humphries said it could have been buried by the sand brought in from the surf. </p><p>A large portion of beach was roped off Friday. Humphries said investigators will revisit the area with metal detectors in a search for a weapon or other evidence.</p><p>Nedra Sanford, her son Justin Minor and grandson Hudson Minor, 3, all of High Point, began their day on the beach about 8 a.m. Friday just feet away from the crime scene tape. </p><p>Sanford said she saw nothing amiss as she sat on the on the oceanfront porch of her hotel room watching a lightning storm off shore between 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. "I can tell you it didn't happen then. It had to have happened before then," she said. </p><p>Nearby, sunbather Margie Smith of Chatmansville, W. Va., said she also didn't hear or see anything while in her oceanfront room directly adjacent to the crime scene.</p><p>But, she said, "the air conditioner was going and the ocean sounds like thunder."</p><p>Sherri Spires of Williamsburg, Va., who is staying at the nearby Savannah Inn said she had considered a midnight swim Thursday, but her friend had talked her out of going for fear of sharks. </p><p>"I'm glad I listened to them," she said upon learning the news. "That's horrible."</p><p><i></p><p>F.T. Norton: 343-2070</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @FTNorton</i></p>